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Hey, no one's perfect, but that excuse won't fly with a TSA agent, which means you might not fly either – not with a passport that doesn't match the information on your ticket. The U.S. State Department will revise and replace a passport at no cost in some circumstances; in others, getting a corrected passport requires paying the standard passport application fees. It generally takes at least a few weeks for a corrected passport to arrive, so start the process immediately if you have international travel planned.

Correcting a Typo or Data Mistake

Everything was correct on the application, but the passport came back with a mistake. If that's the case, the state department will replace the passport at no cost. Complete form DS-5504 – Corrections, Name Change Within 1 Year of Passport Issuance, and Limited Passport Holders, and submit it by mail along with the incorrect passport, a passport photo and documentation that proves the error was made. For example, submit a copy of a birth certificate to show that the birth date on the passport is incorrect. It's not necessary to request a replacement passport for a later address change. Only an error in a permanent piece of information like birth date or your name's spelling requires correcting. This service is only available if the passport has not expired.

Updating Your Name

Maybe you applied for a passport under your married name before the divorce came through or you've simply chosen a new name since applying for a passport. How to request a replacement passport depends on whether you have legal documents to verify the name change and how long it's been since the passport was issued. If the passport was issued within the previous year and you have government-issued documents like a marriage certificate or divorce decree that show a legal name change, complete form DS-5504 and submit it by mail along with the passport, copy of the name change document and a new photo. No fees are required.

If more than one year has passed, it may be possible to request a new passport by mail, using form DS-82. Some applicants won't meet the criteria for using this form and must reapply for a passport in person using form DS-11. In either case, prepare to pay the standard application fees.

The process is a little trickier for applicants who have changed their names for reasons other than marriage or divorce. You'll need a valid ID, like a driver's license, that shows the new name. The passport acceptance agent may want to see proof that you've been using the new name for at least five years. Applicants in this situation must visit a passport acceptance facility in person, complete form DS-11 and pay application fees.

Correcting Gender Designation

Passport holders who undergo gender transition must get their doctors' cooperation to submit their correction requests. In addition to filling out form DS-11 and submitting all the other documents necessary to apply for a passport in person, you must have an original signed letter from your licensed physician stating that you're undergoing appropriate clinical treatment as part of your gender transition. It's up to you and your doctor to determine exactly what that means in your case; undergoing surgery isn't a necessary precursor to changing gender designation. Additionally, provide a court order showing the legal change to your name if your other forms of ID show the old name.

Disclosure

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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About the Author

Kathryn Walsh has been writing about travel topics for more than 10 years, but has been feeding her inner travel bug for much longer. Her favorite place to visit is Scotland, and her work has appeared on sites including USAToday, AZCentral and Choice Hotels.